The upcoming revival of Tony winner Terrence McNally's IT'S ONLY A PLAY has now drawn nearly $8 million before its opening on Broadway this fall, according to Deadline. In July, the production had already sold $5.5 million worth of tickets in advance.

No question the high numbers are at least partially due to legendary duo Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick and their all-star castmates on the marquee.

The first preview of IT'S ONLY A PLAY is set for Thursday, August 28, 2014. The production will play a limited 18-week engagement at Broadway's Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street) with an opening night set for Thursday, October 9, 2014.

In IT'S ONLY A PLAY, it's opening night of Peter Austin's (Broderick) new play as he anxiously awaits to see if his show is a hit. With his career on the line, he shares his big First Night with his best friend, a television star (Lane), his fledgling producer (Mullally), his erratic leading lady (Channing), his wunderkind director (Grint), an infamous drama critic (Abraham), and a fresh-off-the-bus coat check attendant (Stock) on his first night in Manhattan. It's alternately raucous, ridiculous and tender -- and proves that sometimes the biggest laughs happen offstage.